Internet Safety

Letter from Ms. Libbon Regarding Internet Safety

Dear Parents,

If you came to Back-To-School Night you know that I addressed two areas of concern that have to do with technology, cell phones and Internet safety. At that time I told you that I would do two things. First, I would send a letter to each family addressing these concerns again and second, I would include a copy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety in the November Parent Newsletter. Obviously, this letter fulfills the first commitment and you will find the Internet information in your next newsletter.

Two of the most commonly visited sites for high school students are myspace.com and xanga.com. There are others. On these websites students may place a picture and a written description of themselves and then can engage in “chat.” It is possible that your son or daughter may have posted something about him or herself on such a site which may or may not meet with your approval. As I said earlier, access to such sites is not available through the school system. Bishop Montgomery does not monitor these sites. I encourage you to monitor your student’s use, however.

I have serious concerns as does every other high school administration about such postings. In some cases, the posting is inappropriate because the student presents him or herself in a sexually suggestive or provocative manner. The postings are available to anyone who accesses these sites. Anyone can pretend to be someone of high school age and gain access. There are no filters, no protections, no monitoring. A student may think that someone of his/her own age is making advances, when, in fact, that may not at all be the case. There are also often inappropriate comments, pictures, innuendos, party references, derogatory comments about others, etc. which are in the very least, offensive. Because many students think that the internet offers anonymity, sometimes what they post on this website would probably never have been spoken out loud and, most certainly, would never have been spoken out loud in a public forum. Yet, in the privacy of their bedrooms, they may feel no compunction about letting their good judgment slip away as they share their postings with the Internet world.

I want to be very clear that the administration is not interested in actively pursuing what is on these sites, nor is it our responsibility to monitor the students’ postings. I also want to be clear, however, that should inappropriate information come to us related to personal web space sites and our students are involved, we will take action and it may be of a disciplinary nature.

Students do not realize that they are not anonymous on the Internet. They do not realize that they make themselves vulnerable to others who have no scruples and I believe that the fear about who is responding to our students’ postings on these sites is a justifiable one.

Obviously, it is the parents’ responsibility to monitor students’ internet use. Of utmost importance to me, and the reason I am sharing this information with you, is your child’s safety. It is frightening that any student would make him or herself vulnerable to strangers or to predators. I know you want to keep your children out of harm’s way.

Again, please watch for your November Parent Newsletter which will be distributed to your students on October 19th so that they may take them home. I again would ask that you carefully read the Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety and that you talk with your students about these safety issues.